Why Do Spiritual Teachers Stop Teaching?
by Rev. Sheri, founder of Angel Messenger
For many years now, Angel Messenger has been a source of light to many people. As the creators of this work, my husband and I have spent countless hours tirelessly working to make this site what it is. Even though we cannot even afford health insurance for our family, we manage to pay a small staff for some extra help. Even on the days when I’m in severe pain from my current health issues that no doctor seems to be able to understand, I am working. When my grandfather died in June, and I met my biological father and his family for the first time in my life and began dealing with all the heartbreak that brought with it, I was working. I accepted my pain for what it was and kept shining what little bit of light I had left. When my mother in law died just before the holidays this past year, my husband and I forced ourselves to keep pushing forward on getting the new site together … because the old site was dying. While I sit here in pain at this very moment, I tried to respond to more hate-filled emails from our audience, and all I can think is, “Do you even care?”
I know there are people out there who do care, that have followed us for years and years and know the work we put into this site, and we are all grateful for your support. But, this really has made me think about why spiritual teachers stop teaching,why/how they just get too burnt out to do this work anymore. Why do people treat others so badly? We provide a free service to hundreds of thousands of people every month. We haven’t asked for payment for this service that is quite costly for us to provide. In fact, we work with advertisers so that our free reading services do not cost our visitors a dime.
We launched our new website on Monday, and the negative feedback we have received since then has been unbelievable … not because people have questions or can’t find something the old site had, but because of what they say and how they say it. Many of the emails I simply deleted because they honestly don’t deserve a response, but I have personally responded to several of them myself since my assistant is on vacation this week.
Here’s the most recent email (and this one is mild) …
1 hr ago
Name: (removed for privacy)
E-Mail: (removed for privacy)
Subject: The new site
Message: Hi there, just wanted to let you know that the new site design is not as user friendly as the old site. It does not have a mobile option for use on smart phones and is difficult to navigate. Also some of the text overlaps in the layout when viewed on mobile.
I’ve been coming to this site for a few years and always visit from my smart phone. It was perfect before, everything loaded easily and the descriptions for the Angel cards were available. With the new site I cannot get the extended descriptors for the cards and the navigation is terrible.
Sorry to share this but it is very disappointing. Don’t fix what’s not broken. Hopefully you can get your web designer to address these issues.
Thank you (name removed for privacy)
As I’ve said, this email was mild – actually much nicer than most of them. This individual was not hateful about her comments, though it’s obvious she misunderstands a lot. (I wish to be very clear here that this particular email I’ve shared would be considered constructive criticism compared to most of the emails we’ve received.)
Let me answer this question for mobile users …
We are aware that the mobile version of the site is not the same as the desktop version. Our old site did not have a mobile version and the new site does. Google basically requires now that websites have mobile versions, or they may in fact remove your site being in their search. So, when people search for Angel Messenger on Google, we simply would not be found. We determined that would not be helpful, so we have tried to follow Google’s rules by creating a mobile version of our new site, which is called a responsive design. Most people have seen this design before as it is being used by more and more companies. It responds to the size of your screen and gives a special “mobile version” of the site to mobile users. If some of the writing overlaps on your mobile device when you have it facing upright, try turning it sideways.
As for the extended descriptions, all you need to do is click on the name of the card. This is exactly the same as it was on the old site. The only thing we changed here was to remove the highlighted text under every card name that said, “To see more details and the extended description on any card, click on the name of the card below the picture (not the picture itself).” After 6+ years of having a highlighted reminder under every single card, I thought it didn’t seem necessary to keep it. I thought it would make the page look cleaner and that people should know how to use it by now – especially since I added those exact directions at the top of every reading page just in case new users didn’t know how it worked.
A couple people have commented that there is no navigation on the new mobile site, but it really seems that maybe these people simply do not understand how a mobile site works. Toward the top, in the light blue section with our Angel Messenger name, there is a drop down menu (three little lines) just to the right. Click on that menu and you’ll be able to access all the pages on our website. On the old site, the navigation did not work properly on mobile. You could click on the main button, but the drop down didn’t work. With over 80% of our traffic using mobile/tablet devices, we had no choice but to use a responsive design. This also means we make less money with advertising because the mobile version has very few ads as compared to what it had before.
Don’t fix what’s not broken.
I’m sorry, but how would you know if it was broken or not? In fact, the old site was seriously broken, but that’s not something most of our visitors noticed because we were basically performing routine magical juggling acts to keep that seriously broken and outdated site online. This is way more advanced than most internet users can understand, but there’s a lot that goes into creating and maintaining a website like this. It’s sort of like building a house … once upon a time, the house was a perfect new build. As time goes by, more and more people discover the house and want to visit, so you have to expand the size of the house, add more windows, buy more furniture for people to sit on. Eventually, that house is going to look more like a patchwork jigsaw puzzle than the beautiful home it once was.
To add to this, those extra add-ons are made by different companies which don’t always work well together. For example, the e-card software we were using was not working properly with the most updated version of WordPress, so we were getting errors all the time. And, you can’t just not update WordPress either. Most of the time, a WordPress update has something to do with security, and hosting companies do not appreciate it when their users have websites that are vulnerable to cyber attack.
If you don’t think a site like this gets hackers, think again. People try hacking us every day, which is why we have to pay for added security and firewalls. A website with such high traffic is a hacker’s dream. 🙁
Criticism is one thing, but hate mail is not welcome here
Before anyone gets upset that I’m actually standing up for myself, let me give you a glimpse of what I’m seeing. Constructive criticism is one thing; that can be helpful. However, hate mail is unnecessary, and frankly it doesn’t belong here. If you literally hate our new website, you’re welcome to your opinion just as much as you’re welcome not to use this site. We are not a public owned company. We try to give our visitors a say in what we do because we enjoy collaborating with like-minded people. However, if you can only be mean, we really don’t want your energy here.
Think about what you say before you say it. People may also say the same about what I’ve written here, but I’ve thought about it, and someone needs to stand up against the nasty comments some people feel it is okay to attack other people with. How can you expect spiritual teachers to continue to do what they do and be treated so callously? How can we be a light in the world when “haters” work so hard to extinguish that light? Do people think we don’t have feelings, that we’re not human?
Some in the spiritual community might not be happy I’ve said this; there is a consensus that some like to pretend they aren’t actually human, but that’s always been part of who I am and what I stand for as a spiritual teacher who is also a human being. None of us deserve the kinds of attacks that are forced upon us – especially as we become more and more well-known. I know for a fact that many people in the public eye get attacked in similar fashion. This isn’t my first rodeo; hate mail is nothing new for me, but I’m really disgusted to get it from people who supposedly visit our site daily. If you visit this website daily, and you think it’s okay to treat people with such unkind aggressiveness, then this website isn’t for you. I mean it’s literally not working for you, and you may want to consider seeking help elsewhere.
If you’re unhappy that I’m calling out these people, I’m sorry but I’m not sorry. I may be a light worker, but I’m also a business owner and a Scorpio. Our well meaning efforts to bring light to the world through a free service does not also give people license to be jerks. I’m simply pushing back against their darkness.
The spiritual teacher in me reminds me of what Jesus went through … people throwing stones while this kind soul was dying. Well, I’m not Jesus, and I would think people would be a little better than that kind of behavior by now. Sometimes people ask me why the saints and angels seem to no longer be here, but can you really blame them? This world can be a really harsh place. If our audience is spiritually minded and they act in such a way, what does that really say about the mindset of our world? Are we really so much different now than those who threw stones at Jesus or burned witches in a “purifying fire”?
Yesterday, as we were trying to leave the house, I couldn’t hold back my tears of frustration. I was supposed to be going out to spend time with my family as it is actually spring break, but I was just heartbroken. I tried my best to let it go, let Heaven handle it. I returned to find more awful messages and even more this morning. I know change can take some getting used to. I can’t even tell you how many times one of the software companies I use changed something that really had be thrown for a loop, confused or frustrated. Paypal seems to change their back-end layout every year at least. WordPress is making updates all the time. It can be frustrating, but as a common sense business owner, I understand there must be a reason for the changes. Companies don’t just make changes to make things for difficult for their users. That doesn’t make any sense at all.
A lot of time, research, money and other resources went into the creation of this new website. If you need help finding something or don’t understand something, feel free to contact us. However, my assistant is off this week, and I’m not reading any more emails for the remainder of the week. I need to recharge before I have no light left.
For those out there reading this who feel my pain and have gone or are going through something similar, hang in there. Even though this is not exactly fun for me, I know it has a purpose. I’m being reminded of who I am and what I need to do. If you’re like me, maybe you’ve spent too long letting other people trample all over you. Maybe it’s time to say enough is enough. We can’t please everyone. We’re not meant to please everyone, either.
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
If you have questions about our new site, some of them have already been in our frequently asked questions answered here.
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Thank your for your honesty and truth. I love your website, but more so I love that you care about the world and all of us.
Thank you, Mona. Love and Blessings to you! <3
I noticed the change but just rolled with it. Its a shame you had to bend yourselves out of shape to accomodate companies that dont sync successfully with each other. After so much experience & troubleshooting may be you could design a program or system that works more cohesively for businesses such as yourself & future proof them to allow for increased traffic. I dont know if this is feasible or pissible but arent we in the business of seeing miracles manifest and believing in the impossible? Just a thort. Keep the faith & absolutely take a stand. If the comments are unjustified then take a stand for what is right and just. And how do we show we value justice ,yruth,loyalty, love honour and integrity if we donot draw a line in the sand, stand fast & make a stand not for the sake of making a stand or shaping up for a fight or arguing for the sake of arguing. No. We do it because its the right thing to do. Ever notice the Archangel Michael has a sword. It was God given. As was the doubled edged sword of truth. If you feel you may have offended people then faircall to apologize but dont say sorry if your not & you have no reason to be. You provide a service that is needed by Lightworkers and EarthAngels such as myself. I’d like to see the haters do as well or even just DO. Love & Blessings & may the Archangels be ever present with you. From a Kiwigirl in New Zealand Blessings xx
Kiwigirl, a program like that would be amazing, though would also be waaaayy above my head to figure out. Anyone reading this who could do it, though, I would be so very much grateful to. The difficulty is that some of these companies are so big and basically own everything … Google and WordPress. No one company offers enough to solve all issues that website owners deal with, so you have to work with multiple companies. I think those companies do try to make their products work with others. However, just one example is when WordPress makes an update to it’s platform, it’s usually a security update and many times is rushed out before working out all the bugs. So, all the webmasters and developers rush to ensure they have updated their products – sometimes only to find the update has now broken their website or products. Being an online business is sometimes like trying to build a house of cards with tissue paper … You fight the weak elements with all your ability to make it stand, then one strong wind and down it goes.
Thank you for your comments and your kindness. 🙂 Very good point about Archangel Michael’s sword of truth! Love and Blessings to you. <3
I just want you to know how much we appreciate you. Even with all the stress you’re under, you still reach out to us. Good for you, knowing what to do. Sending so much love and so many healthy, stress-free wishes!
Thank you, Sue. <3
Thank you so much for the updates you have done for your website! I personally think it looks and operates great, and I don’t have problems using it on a computer or mobile device. Please ignore the haters if you can; people are afraid of change as a rule of thumb. This new site will reach the users who understand and appreciate what you do here. As a lightworker myself, I completely understand the harsh and ungrounded aggressiveness and pain others inflict upon those who try to spread light and love in the world. Know that you are so very much appreciated for the work you do! I have visited this site for quite awhile now, and it’s one of the few places where I feel safe to ask what I must to the angels. Peace be to you and your family now, and in the future. Namaste.
Thank you, TC. I’m glad the new website is working well for you. 🙂 Blessings to you. <3
Greetings from Ireland!
This wonderful site that you and your husband have lovingly created is perfect. Thank you so much for all your efforts and love. I have received healing and spiritual support from the cards and I so appreciate that it is free for all.
I had an online healing that I booked through the old site and I hope you take a percentage as I wanted to support you and thank you when I booked it. Ignore the haters, that’s what the delete button is for. Ask Archangel Michael to put his cloak of pure white light around you, your family, your staff and volunteers. You are safe, strong and protected, the worst is now behind you. You have asked for support and it is now manifesting. WE LOVE YOU and we love this site. That’s why we’re here!!! God Bless and I am praying that you can now afford health insurance for yourself and your family. You deserve only good in your life xx❤️????????☘
Hi Stephi from Ireland! I just watched a House Hunters International about a couple who moved to Ireland last night. Beautiful country! <3
I'm happy to hear that you are enjoying the new website. When we were scheduling appointments for the practitioners, it was a lot more work, and so we did split the fee with them. We kept 30% of the appointment rate which covered all the software and Paypal fees, and that also helped cover some of my assistant's pay. That's actually at least 10% lower than industry standard, but I know how much time and effort our practitioners put into their sessions and wanted to give them as much as possible. Right now, the service we offer our practitioners of helping them promote their work is offered at no charge.
Thank you so much for your kindness and blessings! <3 Blessings to you as well! <3
Sending you love, strength, and resilience. The way people act is usually a reflection of what is going on within them, and not really about you. Please don’t take their harsh criticism to heart. The love and light within you is stronger than that. Peace & Blessings to you, your husband, and your family!
Thank you, Stacey. Peace and Blessings to you as well. 🙂
Sending you love and blessings for the wonderful resources and support you provide. ????
Thank you, Emma. <3
I think it is brilliant that you have expressed your hurt in this way Rev Sheri. I found the new site took a bit of getting used to but it’s lovely and works fine on my smart phone. People like to assert themselves in a hateful way because they are trying to prove their own superiority and dominance. Keep strong and allow them their journey. We must shield ourselves in an abundance of love.
Believe in yourself more, you are making a lot of us happy by having your wonderful site. Big thanks & love.
Thank you, Bilba. <3 Love and Blessings to you. <3